Boost in medical oxygen production: PM Modi inaugurates two plants virtually at Silchar Medical College

Two new Oxygen plants with a production capacity of 1000 Liter/minute have been inaugurated at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) today. These two new pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants have been installed with assistance from PM CARE’s fund. Like the whole country, Barak Valley and its lone medical college also faced the furry of two devastating waves of COVID pandemic, and there is a looming threat of a potential third wave. Given the prevailing situation, the state government decided to provide and boost medical oxygen production at SMCH as preemptive action with the help of the COVID crisis rehabilitation fund of ‘PM CARES’.

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged 35 PSA oxygen plants set up under the PM CARES fund across 35 states and union territories at AIIMS Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. “With the new PSA plants, over 1,150 oxygen plans funded by PM CARES are working, and they have now covered every district in the country,” PM Modi said in his address to the event.

Member of Parliament of Silchar Dr. Rajdeep Roy, principal of SMCH Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty, and Cachar DC Keerthi Jalli were present at the inauguration event in Silchar Medical College. Dr. Rajdeep Roy extended his sincere gratitude to the CM Himanta Bishwa Sharma and PM Narendra Modi for connecting SMCH with the ‘PM CARES’ fund scheme.

“As you all know, India is facing the rage of COVID Pandemic for two years, and during the second wave, the demand for medical oxygen was increased by 10-12 folds. So looking at the existing infrastructure, the state and central government decided to boost the Oxygen Production capacity across 36 states, and union territories with the help of PM CARES fund. These oxygen plants will remain as an asset, infrastructure of SMCH and would continue to serve people of Barak Valley and adjacent states, whether the third wave comes or not,” Dr. Roy told the reporters at the event.

Dr. Roy also said, “SMCH is ready to serve the patients of neighboring states too; other than this two PSA oxygen plant SMCH has its state-funded oxygen plant, and with the addition of two new plants, SMCH currently have the capacity of producing oxygen at 3500 Liter/ minute.”

“With the installation of two new oxygen plants under PM CARES scheme, our production capacity will get a boost, this will remain as a valuable asset, I sincerely thank our PM and CM, because of their leadership SMCH is getting these state of the art facilities. Now, if the third wave comes, we are ready to face, we are now self-sufficient to meet the demand of medical oxygen, besides this two SMCH already has plant for producing liquid medial oxygen with capacity of 40000 liters,” SMCH Principal Dr. Babul Bezbaruah told the press at the event.